Reply to: Monbiot on Hazel Blears

[lilelvis2000]

My wife did some work with Ms. Blears...she describes her as "useless".

That's probably flattering her a bit.

[Svalbaard]

Here here George.

[expat]

anyone else having a problem accessing the comments?

Nope.

There are lots of good ones too:

Hazel and her National Socialist chums have made voting Tory an attractive idea. Quite an achievement in my case.

Perhaps that needed saying. What has not been said is the cheerleaders of H.B. G.B. T.B. H.H. D.M. are senior contributors to this news outlet. Some posters have reproduced quotes from past articles that may illuminate why the government behaved the way it did.
To read them now (not dissimilar to current pieces on Obama) makes for "cringe" reading" Maybe the Guardian (exception P.Toynbee) has actually decided to abandon the sinking HMS NUlabour as the only way to retain any credibility.
"It was the Guardian wot won it" Those writers who are affiliated in some way to Nulabour, used their position to persuade voters, and truly see the results of those policies, also need to "Confess". It was not only Bankers, Nulabour, and the FSA that delivered us to this point, the media (Guardian) also is responsible in creating this nightmare.
Spin is a poor substitute for truth, and it may be the case, when agendas become a priority, something very important is lost.
This may be the point HB failed to make clear. Those in the media, were as sycophantic in the good times as any yesminister, and that they now conveniently ignore their own role in this, is what angers Ms Blears.

Quite a few comments have been removed by the moderators.

[Torran]

anyone else having a problem accessing the comments?

[ace00]

I remember at the time, all of the anti-Saddam propaganda and the information released on weapons of destruction and missile launch sites. At the time, most people believed that propaganda so I have no doubt as to their reasons for voting to invade. .....

Anyone who believed the transparent propoganda coming out of the Bush & Blair administrations prior to the 2003 invasion of Iraq was an idiot. But there's a lot of idiots about.

[expat]

This HMG make very few unpopular decisions and thus they have been in power for so long. Thus they have not done anything about public sector pensions, are still recruiting into the public sector in a recession, and are still increasing the welfare state, and borrowing, borrowing and borrowing.

They would not know a tough decision if it smacked them in the face. They are the yes-men of politics.

That is New Labour (though it was pioneered by John Major). Old Labour had principles, but sticking to them often kept them out of government.

[Doggy Styles]

...I think a lot of people were glad Saddam was finally going to be removed from power.

Even that turned out to be a bad thing. For us I mean, not for his enemies between the no-fly zones.

[d000hg]

Most of who was 'in favour' ???

I don't know a single soul who was in favour of that war - and I know some really bellicose idiots (you should visit my local).

Seriously though, I don't honestly know anyone who thought it was anything other than an utter disaster when we kneeled and sucked Bushes cock, and waded into Iraq.

It started a nightmare that our grandchildren will have to live with.

I was under the impression that originally, there was a lot of support. Obviously public opinion turned massively as more information came to light but I think a lot of people were glad Saddam was finally going to be removed from power.

[Cyberman]

Most of who was 'in favour' ???

I don't know a single soul who was in favour of that war - and I now some really bellicose idiots (you should visit my local).

Seriously though, I don't honestly know anyone who thought it was anything other than an utter disaster when we kneeled and sucked Bushes cock, and waded into Iraq.

It started a nightmare that our grandchildren will have to live with.

I think that are many other things that your grandchildren will have to worry about after this government's exploits. The Iraq war will be the least of their worries.

[Cyberman]

On the other hand if the government do something which they think best that isn't popular, everyone attacks them for not listening to what people actually want.

However let's look at your examples. I don't think most people agree with all of those things, or even most of them. Those are mostly controversial issues where the government was criticised for its decision.

This HMG make very few unpopular decisions and thus they have been in power for so long. Thus they have not done anything about public sector pensions, are still recruiting into the public sector in a recession, and are still increasing the welfare state, and borrowing, borrowing and borrowing.

They would not know a tough decision if it smacked them in the face. They are the yes-men of politics.

[bogeyman]

At least I am prepared to be honest and say that I was in favour. A lot were against but I still think that most were in favour. You only need 51% for a majority.

Most of who was 'in favour' ???

I don't know a single soul who was in favour of that war - and I know some really bellicose idiots (you should visit my local).

Seriously though, I don't honestly know anyone who thought it was anything other than an utter disaster when we kneeled and sucked Bushes cock, and waded into Iraq.

It started a nightmare that our grandchildren will have to live with.

[Cyberman]

Perhaps, but the government knew otherwise.

I have no doubt that you were all for this illegal war, but a hell of a lot of us were not, and are still very angry about it, and want to see the perpetrators brought to justice - at the Hague.

It will never happen of course. These slime bags will get away with the vilest crimes over and over again.

At least I am prepared to be honest and say that I was in favour. A lot were against but I still think that most were in favour. You only need 51% for a majority.

[Cyberman]

On the other hand if the government do something which they think best that isn't popular, everyone attacks them for not listening to what people actually want.

However let's look at your examples. I don't think most people agree with all of those things, or even most of them. Those are mostly controversial issues where the government was criticised for its decision.

They were criticised, but you miss the point. They were minority issues and the cynical idea was to win those minority votes, which they did. They do not care about the majority where marginal seats are concerned, because it is the minorities that win the seats.

[bogeyman]

I remember at the time, all of the anti-Saddam propaganda and the information released on weapons of destruction and missile launch sites. At the time, most people believed that propaganda so I have no doubt as to their reasons for voting to invade. The propaganda was not seen as lies at the time, and there is still an underlying feeling that weapons were buried or moved to Iran.

Perhaps, but the government knew otherwise.

I have no doubt that you were all for this illegal war, but a hell of a lot of us were not, and are still very angry about it, and want to see the perpetrators brought to justice - at the Hague.

It will never happen of course. These slime bags will get away with the vilest crimes over and over again.

[d000hg]

Most politicians will follow the government line if they want to reach the highest office. Labour in general don't have principles. They simply do a poll, find out what is most popular at the time and make it policy. Commonsense or intelligent thought really does not enter the equation.

Thus we had declassification of cannabis, banning of foxhunting, unlimited immigration, appeasement of muslims, political correctness, unlimited credit for everybody etc etc.

On the other hand if the government do something which they think best that isn't popular, everyone attacks them for not listening to what people actually want.

However let's look at your examples. I don't think most people agree with all of those things, or even most of them. Those are mostly controversial issues where the government was criticised for its decision.